Why Working With a Financial Advisor Who Has Experienced Divorce Can Make a Meaningful Difference
By Bridget Borel, CFPⓇ
Serving women in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and throughout Maryland
When I founded Clairwell Financial Planning, I knew that I wanted to BE the financial advisor that I wish I’d had when I went through divorce. Guiding a client through what is likely to be the single largest financial event of their lives requires technical expertise, and that expertise is enhanced by life experience.
Divorce is not just a legal event. It is a financial, emotional, and identity transformation that touches nearly every aspect of your life. For many women navigating divorce in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, the numbers matter — but so does the context in which those numbers exist.
For women searching for a financial advisor during divorce in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, or elsewhere in Maryland, the right support can shape not only the outcome of a settlement, but the confidence with which you move forward. It is also about trust, empathy, and lived understanding. I remember the moment that I first truly felt that I had an advocate supporting me when I went through divorce, and I want to instill that feeling in my clients. Working with a financial advisor who has personally experienced divorce can offer an added layer of value — not because they have all the answers, but because they truly understand the terrain.
Here I share how my personal experience, coupled with my technical expertise distinguishes me as an advisor for divorcées.
Lived Experience Creates Practical Empathy
A financial advisor who has been through divorce understands, firsthand, how overwhelming the process can feel. The paperwork. The negotiations. The emotional fatigue that comes from making high‑stakes decisions while your life is in flux.
This lived experience often translates into:
Greater patience during decision‑making
An understanding that clarity takes time
Respect for the emotional weight behind financial choices
Clients are not treated as “cases” or “scenarios,” but as people navigating one of life’s most destabilizing transitions.
They Understand the Invisible Financial Stressors
Divorce introduces stressors that rarely appear on a balance sheet:
Fear of making an irreversible mistake
Anxiety about long‑term independence
Guilt, grief, or second‑guessing tied to money decisions
An advisor who has personally walked through divorce recognizes these moments immediately. They sense the emotional question beneath the client’s technical question — and when they are really seeking reassurance, perspective, or permission to slow down.
This awareness allows for guidance that is not only financially sound, but emotionally attuned.
Experience Helps Anticipate What Comes After the Settlement
Many financial and legal discussions during divorce focus on reaching an agreement. But life continues long after the documents are signed.
An advisor who has lived through divorce understands:
How settlement decisions feel six months later
Which compromises tend to create regret over time
The adjustment period that follows even a “good” outcome
This perspective helps clients evaluate options not just for fairness today, but for sustainability and peace of mind in the years ahead.
Less Judgment, More Grounded Support
Unfortunately, even though it is incredibly common, divorce can still come with shame, self‑blame, or fear of being judged — especially when financial roles in the marriage were uneven. Women are often told that they aren’t good with money or able to make strong investment decisions, and this can leave them overwhelmed at the thought of navigating divorce settlement negotiations as well as managing their financial lives going forward.
An advisor who has been divorced often brings:
A non‑judgmental presence
Sensitivity to power imbalances and confidence gaps
Respect for how financial literacy evolves through experience
Empowerment for clients to rewrite their personal “money story”
The focus stays where it belongs: helping you move forward with clarity and confidence, not explaining or defending the past.
Professional Expertise Still Comes First — Experience Enhances It
Personal experience alone does not replace training, fiduciary responsibility, or technical expertise. At Clairwell Financial Planning, professional standards are the foundation of every client relationship.
What lived divorce experience can add is context — a deeper understanding of how financial decisions intersect with identity, security, and self‑trust during this transition.
When technical skill and personal insight are combined, clients often feel both well‑advised and genuinely supported.
Choosing the Right Financial Advisor During Divorce in Maryland
Not every client needs an advisor who has personally experienced divorce. But many find comfort in knowing their advisor understands the process not only academically, but personally.
If you are navigating divorce and looking for guidance that balances strategy with empathy, working with an advisor who has been there can help you feel less alone — and more empowered — as you make decisions about your future. This is especially true when working with a divorce financial planning specialist who understands the legal, emotional, and financial landscape specific to Maryland.
A Thoughtful First Step
If you are early in the divorce process — or finding yourself at a financial crossroads — a conversation with the right advisor can bring clarity without pressure. At Clairwell, initial conversations are designed to help you understand your options, identify key questions to raise with your attorney, and feel more grounded as you move forward.
You do not need to have everything figured out to begin. Sometimes the most valuable step is simply having a steady, experienced guide walk through the financial picture with you. If you’d like to talk, click on the “Get in Touch” button below.
Clairwell Financial Planning provides divorce financial planning for women in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and across Maryland, helping clients rebuild clarity, confidence, and financial independence through major life transitions.
